I quickly learned that with almost zero connections in this new yoga community I was going no where fast. It was depressing. So everyday for the past 3+ months I have diligently gone on craigslist, typed "yoga" into the search box and searched jobs in all of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. I've also applied to dozens of full time, non-yoga related jobs as well, again, not knowing if teaching yoga was ever going to work. And it seemed no matter how many jobs I applied to, the teaching positions were the only ones I would get a bite from.
Three and a half months later, when someone asks me what I do. I can proudly and confidently say "I'm a yoga teacher". Although no one shows up to some of my classes and I make an obscenely low amount of money, I'm doing this thing. I'm on the path. I am growing a business (I say this, somehow filled with both doubt and confidence).
I sort of feel like I'm riding a bike without training wheels for the first time. I'm riding, I'm actually doing it, but at any point I could loose control and crash and burn completely. I bought teaching insurance the other day, and because I teach 6 or more classes a week, I'm considered full time. Crazy to me that someone who makes enough money to fall under the poverty line could be considered a "full-time teacher". But things are getting better everyday. More and more opportunities are popping up, and as agonizingly slow as it may seem I am making connections and becoming part of a community here. I've planted all of these seeds, I just need to give them time to grow.
And although money may be scarce, the more I teach, the more confident I become in that this is what I want to devote my life to. I want to share this practice, that has changed my life, with others. It is honestly the most rewarding job in the world.
So that's where I am. Oh, and I have a website (pictures coming soon!) You should check it out. Spread the word:
